Saturday 4th October. Having seen the weather forecast for the weekend and assessed my weekend jobs list, we decided to have a single day on Jannock today. We set off from Gayton at 10 o'clock and headed towards the Blisworth boatwash tunnel. The passage through was as expected, wetter than outside, although we did not meet any oncoming boats this time. We had our tunnel loving neighbour, Margaret, as extra hand today so we were looking forward to an easy trip down the Stoke Bruerne flight. What we weren't expecting was to emerge from the tunnel into the 1940s. Stoke Bruerne had a 'village at war' event on and there were period soldiers, airmen and working boats everywhere. The AFS were even setting up a fire pump by the top lock. We had to wait for passage through the lock and so found ourselves waiting with nb Marni B, a fellow Cutweb <http://www.cutweb.org.uk> member. They graciously let us hang alongside them outside the Boat inn whilst the pair in front prepared the lock and passed down through it. Jannock was not behaving well in the strong cross winds and so Brenda had her work cut out manoeuvring. With some difficulty we finally got Jannock onto the lock waiting area once the boats in front had gone in.
Whilst we turned the top lock, Brenda was approached by the crew on nb Holly who she though was after the chocolate cake ( a whole month's coupons) she was about to eat but they told her how they appreciated our trip reports. Thanks folks. A spiv then approached her and offered her some nylons, luckily the wind then blew his hat into the canal so the deal was never completed. Once through the top lock we found a Wyvern Shipping single boat had just entered the next one so Marni B went in and shared with them. Jannock followed after we'd turned the lock until we also paired up with another Wyvern hireboat when we entered the third lock (16) At each subsequent lock, I went ahead to turn the next one whilst Margaret and the crew from the Wyvern boat worked the pair through. During my excursions ahead, I had mentioned to the crew of the hireboat now sharing with Marni B that it would be easier for them to wait in the lock until the next lock was ready as the wind was blowing them all over the cut. Brenda and the steerer of Jannock's partner were now travelling between locks, side by side, like a pair of old pro's achieving scores of 9 and 10 from the appreciative lock crew. When I went ahead to the next lock (18) I found Marni B and partner sitting in the lock waiting. "We are doing as you suggested" the steerer of the hire boat stated "it's much easier waiting here". It might have helped if they had sent someone ahead to prepare the next lock so off I trotted and set it for them. On my return I then turned this one for our passage through. Not a lot of Northbound traffic up the flight today. Finally out of the bottom of the flight and I found myself alone on the stern whilst Brenda and Margaret prepared lunch. It kept threatening to rain but the main problem was the side winds. As we reached gaps in the trees lining the bank Jannock would lurch off towards the bank and drastic action was needed tiller-wise to recover. It is at times like this I wish she was a little deeper in the draft. We finally moored up on a 14 day slot and I headed back to Gayton on the Di Blasi to fetch the car. Then home via Wickes and a Chinese EMAYL (Eat As Much As You like) restaurant. Result! Graham www.jannock.org.uk -- Posted By Jannock to Jannock <http://jannock.blogspot.com/2008/10/time-warp-through-blisworth-tunnel.html > Weblog at 10/04/2008 08:43:00 PM [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
